Methods and systems for compensating for alien crosstalk between connectors

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and systems for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors. Specifically, the methods and systems relate to isolation and compensation techniques for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors for use with high-speed data cabling. A frame can be configured to receive a number of connectors. Shield structures may be positioned to isolate at least a subset of the connectors from one another. The connectors can be positioned to move at least a subset of the connectors away from alignment with a common plane. A signal compensator may be configured to adjust a data signal to compensate for alien crosstalk. The connectors are configured to efficiently and accurately propagate high-speed data signals by, among other functions, minimizing alien crosstalk.

1. A method of determining the amount of alien crosstalk on a jack, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a victim jack including a first victim conductive pair; 
 providing a disturber jack adjacent to the victim jack, the disturber jack including a first disturber conductive pair and a second disturber conductive pair; 
 providing a network analyzer including a transmitter coupled to the first and second disturber conductive pairs and a receiver coupled to the first victim conductive pair; 
 transmitting a test signal to the first disturber conductive pair through the network analyzer and measuring the alien crosstalk induced on the first victim conductive pair by the first disturber conductive pair; 
 transmitting a test signal to the second disturber conductive pair through the network analyzer and measuring the alien crosstalk induced on the first victim conductive pair by the second disturber conductive pair; and 
 aggregating the measurements to determine a sum alien crosstalk on the first victim conductive pair. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the victim jack and the disturber jack are coupled to terminations including resistors for simulating a network connection. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of providing a plurality of disturber jacks adjacent the victim jack and transmitting a test signal to each of the disturber conductive pairs of each of the disturber jacks and measuring the alien crosstalk induced on the first victim conductive pair by all of the disturber conductive pairs. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein each disturber jack includes at least four disturber conductive pairs. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the victim jack includes a plurality of victim conductive pairs, the method further comprising transmitting a test signal to the first and second disturber conductive pairs through the network analyzer and measuring the alien crosstalk induced on each of the victim conductive pairs by the first and second disturber conductive pairs and aggregating the measurements to determine a sum alien crosstalk on each of the victim conductive pairs. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of victim conductive pairs includes at least four victim conductive pairs. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing conductive elements on a circuit board on the victim jack to compensate for the alien crosstalk. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the conductive elements provide inductive and capacitive coupling.